A tragic accident involving an Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) driver has triggered outrage and protest in Bhubaneswar.
Family members placed the body of Pramod Kumar Mohapatra, a resident of Baideshwar in Banki, outside the OSRTC office in Khandagiri on Saturday, demanding justice, compensation, and a government job for one family member.
Mohapatra, who had been serving OSRTC for nearly 25 years, reportedly died late Friday night near Midnapore in West Bengal. He was driving an OSRTC bus when a bike collided with him after he stepped out of the vehicle. Family members alleged that instead of rushing him to a hospital, the co-driver and officials abandoned him on the roadside. They claimed that timely medical treatment could have saved his life.
His nephew accused OSRTC officials of instructing the co-driver to return with the bus rather than ensuring medical help for the injured driver. The family described the act as “inhuman” and demanded accountability from the corporation.
Following the incident, relatives and locals staged a dharana in front of the OSRTC office, placing the body and raising slogans. They demanded adequate compensation and immediate employment for a family member to support the bereaved household.
